UAE, Serbia deepen strategic ties during presidential talks
The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in key sectors, including investment, trade, technology, food security and renewable energy — all part of the broader strategic and economic partnership between the UAE and Serbia.
Vučić welcomed Sheikh Mohamed and said the visit reflects both countries' shared commitment to deeper ties and mutual prosperity.
The talks also covered regional and global developments, with His Highness reaffirming the UAE's belief in diplomacy, dialogue and peaceful solutions to international challenges.
He also emphasised the UAE's support for peace and stability in the Balkans.
Both sides expressed a strong interest in further strengthening relations and working together on initiatives that promote regional development and global cooperation.
Sheikh Mohamed concluded his visit and departed Belgrade, where he was seen off by Vučić and senior officials.
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Emirates 24/7
2 days ago
- Emirates 24/7
Mohammed bin Rashid: UAE non-oil foreign trade exceeded AED1.7 trillion in H1 2025
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has said that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has continued on its path to become a major trading nation, a reliable trading partner for the world's largest economies and a gateway to facilitate trade flows around the world. In a tweet on the "X" platform, His Highness said, "Today, I reviewed our non-oil foreign trade data for the first half of 2025. In the first six months of this year, we achieved more than AED1.7 trillion, with a record growth of 24% compared to the first half of 2024, which itself was an exceptional year for our national economy. We recorded double what we achieved in the first half of 2021 and continued the unprecedented boom in our trade with historic growth rates of 59.5% and 37.8% compared to the first half of 2022 and 2023, respectively.' His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum added, 'In September 2021, we launched the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme to expand our network of trading partners around the world. Our non-oil foreign trade continues to reap the benefits of this programme, under which we have concluded 28 agreements to date, 10 of which have entered into force. This means we can offer unhindered customs access to markets where nearly 3 billion consumers live.' His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum praised the UAE's non-oil exports, which increased their contribution to total non-oil foreign trade to 21.4% for the first time in the country's history, compared to 18.4% in the first half of 2024. The UAE's non-oil foreign trade for the period from January 1 to June 30 2025 showed the continuation of its upward trajectory, recording about AED1.728 trillion (equivalent to USD$470.3 billion), with a growth of 24% year-on-year, compared to the first half of 2024, and growth on a semi-annual basis of 9.1% compared to the second half of 2024. The UAE's non-oil foreign trade continued to achieve record and unprecedented growth rates, recording an increase of 37.8% and 59.5% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2023 and 2022 respectively. Trade output is double the figure achieved in the first half of 2021 and was more than double the figure recorded in the first half of 2019. The UAE's non-oil exports reached AED369.5 billion during the first half of 2025, with a growth rate of more than 44.7% – for the first time in the country's history –, as well as a growth rate of 80% when compared to the first half of 2023. This level is more than double the value of non-oil exports during 2022, more than double 2021's level and 3 times larger than in 2020 and 2019. Non-oil exports increased during the first half of 2025 at a record rate of 210.3% compared to the same period in 2019. Non-oil exports were the best performers among the UAE's foreign trade during the first half of 2025, contributing 21.4% of the UAE's total non-oil trade. This was higher than the contribution in the first half of 2024 and 2023, where it was 18.4% and 16.4%, respectively. The most important destinations for the UAE's non-oil exports during the first half of 2025 were Switzerland, followed by India second, Turkey third, and Hong Kong-China fourth. Thailand, Switzerland and India recorded the highest growth rates among the recipient markets for UAE exports. Among the top 10 recipients of the UAE's non-oil exports, CEPA partners amounted to AED85.02 billion, with a growth of 62.8% and a 23% share of the UAE's non-oil exports. India received a value of AED51.45 billion, a growth of 97.6% compared to 2024 for the same period, followed by Turkey with a value of AED27.2 billion and a growth of 24.1%. Exports to these ten countries with which CEPAs came into force increased 3 times compared to the exports recorded in 2022 and 2021 and exceeded 4 times the exports in 2019. The value of re-exports also continued its upward trajectory, reaching AED389 billion during the first half of 2025, with a growth of 14%, 15.8% and 25.4% compared to the same periods in 2024, 2023 and 2022. respectively. The re-exports of the top 10 partner nations recorded a growth of 16.5%. Re-exports of the rest of the world recorded a growth of 12% compared with the first half of 2024. The UAE's imports of non-oil goods amounted to AED969.3 billion during the first half of 2025, a growth rate of 22.5% compared to the same period in 2024, while the UAE's imports from the top 10 trading partners increased by 20.8% and with the rest of the world by 24.3%. The UAE's non-oil trade with the country's top 10 trading partners around the world continued its upward trajectory in the first half of 2025 with a growth of 25.5% and an increase of 23.6% with the rest of the countries. Trade with India increased by 33.9%, with China by 15.6%, with Switzerland by 120%, and with Saudi Arabia by 21.3% compared to the same period in 2024. Trade with Turkey also saw a 41.4% rise, while the UAE's non-oil trade with the United States of America witnessed a growth of 29% and ranked sixth among the country's top 10 trading partners around the world. France also entered the top 10 list in the first half of 2025.
Arabian Business
3 days ago
- Arabian Business
UAE non-oil trade hits $470.3bn in first half of 2025
The UAE recorded non-oil foreign trade worth AED1.728 trillion ($470.3 billion) in the first six months of 2025, marking a 24 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the figures on social media platform X. 'Today, I reviewed our non-oil foreign trade data for the first half of 2025. In the first six months of this year, we achieved more than AED1.7 trillion, with a record growth of 24 per cent compared to the first half of 2024, which itself was an exceptional year for our national economy. We recorded double what we achieved in the first half of 2021 and continued the unprecedented boom in our trade with historic growth rates of 59.5 per cent and 37.8 per cent compared to the first half of 2022 and 2023, respectively,' Sheikh Mohammed said. Today, I reviewed the data for the first half of this year regarding the UAE's non-oil foreign trade. It achieved significant growth of 24% compared to the first half of the previous year, while the average growth of global trade was only about 1.75%. Our non-oil foreign trade… — HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 30, 2025 UAE non-oil exports hit $100.6 billion with 44.7% growth in 2025 The semi-annual growth reached 9.1 per cent compared to the second half of 2024. Sheikh Mohammed attributed the performance to the UAE's strategic position under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's leadership, describing the country as 'a major trading nation, a reliable trading partner for the world's largest economies and a gateway to facilitate trade flows around the world.' Non-oil exports reached AED369.5 billion during the first half of 2025, registering growth of 44.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2024, according to a statement by the Dubai Media Office. This represents the first time non-oil exports have contributed 21.4 per cent of total non-oil foreign trade, up from 18.4 per cent in the first half of 2024 and 16.4 per cent in 2023. The export figures show an 80 per cent increase compared to the first half of 2023, more than double the 2022 level, and represent a 210.3 per cent increase compared to 2019. Switzerland emerged as the top destination for UAE non-oil exports, followed by India, Turkey, and Hong Kong-China. Thailand, Switzerland and India recorded the highest growth rates among recipient markets. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme, launched in September 2021, has produced 28 agreements with 10 currently in force. 'In September 2021, we launched the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme to expand our network of trading partners around the world. Our non-oil foreign trade continues to reap the benefits of this programme, under which we have concluded 28 agreements to date, 10 of which have entered into force. This means we can offer unhindered customs access to markets where nearly 3 billion consumers live,' Sheikh Mohammed said. CEPA partners accounted for AED85.02 billion of UAE non-oil exports, showing 62.8 per cent growth and representing 23 per cent of total non-oil exports. India received AED51.45 billion worth of exports, marking 97.6 per cent growth compared to 2024, while Turkey received AED27.2 billion with 24.1 per cent growth. Exports to the ten countries with active CEPAs increased three times compared to 2022 and 2021 figures and exceeded four times the 2019 exports. Re-exports totalled AED389 billion in the first half of 2025, with growth rates of 14 per cent, 15.8 per cent and 25.4 per cent compared to the same periods in 2024, 2023 and 2022 respectively. The top 10 partner nations recorded 16.5 per cent growth in re-exports, while the rest of the world showed 12 per cent growth. Non-oil imports reached AED969.3 billion, representing 22.5 per cent growth compared to the first half of 2024. Imports from the top 10 trading partners grew 20.8 per cent, while imports from other countries increased 24.3 per cent. Switzerland becomes top destination for UAE non-oil exports in 2025 Trade with the UAE's top 10 trading partners grew 25.5 per cent, while trade with other countries increased 23.6 per cent. Individual country performance showed trade with India up 33.9 per cent, China up 15.6 per cent, Switzerland up 120 per cent, and Saudi Arabia up 21.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. Turkey recorded 41.4 per cent growth, while the United States saw 29 per cent growth and ranked sixth among the top 10 trading partners. France entered the top 10 list for the first half of 2025.
The National
3 days ago
- The National
President Sheikh Mohamed and India's Modi explore ways to bolster ties
President Sheikh Mohamed and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed efforts to strengthen ties under a strategic partnership in place between the nations in a phone call on Wednesday. The two leaders spoke of their desire to promote sustainable development for their countries during the talks, state news agency Wam reported. Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Mr Modi on becoming the second longest-serving prime minister in India's history. Mr Modi, 74, came to power in May 2014 and won a third consecutive term following national elections in June 2024. He has overtaken former prime minister Indira Gandhi, who served from January 1966 to March 1977. India's longest-serving prime minister is Jawaharlal Nehru, who was in office from August 15, 1947, to May 27, 1964. India and the UAE enjoy a deep-rooted friendship that dates back to the formation of the Emirates. The UAE is home to more than 3.5 million Indians, the largest expatriate community in the country. The UAE and India in April signed eight initial pacts across sectors from logistics to health care that are aimed at boosting economic ties. The preliminary agreements also cover industries including infrastructure, higher education, maritime services, logistics and private sector engagement. They were signed during the official visit to India by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.
